Religion and Empire
The Dynamics of Aztec and Inca Expansionism

Religion and Empire is an innovative and provocative study of the two largest states of the Precolumbian Americas, the Aztec and Inca Empires.

Geoffrey W. Conrad (Author), Arthur A. Demarest (Author)

9780521318969, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 31 August 1984

280 pages
22.8 x 15.3 x 2 cm, 0.486 kg

'… compulsive reading, innovative and provoking.' New Scientist

Religion and Empire is an innovative and provocative study of the two largest states of the Precolumbian Americas, the Aztec and Inca Empires. By examining the causes of the formation and expansion of these two empires, the authors identify similar patterns and processes underlying their rise and decline. They demonstrate that in both examples among the critical elements in the transition from marginal people to imperial power to disintegrating society were changes in traditional religion, including the elaboration of Aztec human sacrifice and Inca worship of the corpses of their kings. The authors show that the complex interaction between such ideological shifts and political and economic factors generated the spectacular historical trajectories of these Pre-Colombian empires.

List of illustrations
1. Introduction
2. The Aztec imperial expansion
3. The Inca imperial expansion
4. Precolumbian imperialism: theories and evidence
5. Ideology and cultural evolution
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Archaeology by period / region [HDD]